Cartridge link guide



u y 5, 1952 A. c. BONKEMEYER I ,603,130

CARTRIDGE LINK GUIDE Filed April 10, 1946 Amos llEmNK MEYER 'ation, or vice-versa.

Patented July 15, 1952 CARTRIDGE LINK GUIDE Amos C. Bonkemeyer, Arlington, Va.

Application April 10, 1946, Serial No. 661,047

17 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to improvements on automatic guns, more particularly to a means of discharging stripped cartridge links, and it consists of a reversible link guide retained in the feedway of the weapon. While my invention may be adapted for use with other automatic guns, in the present instance it is shown applied to the Browning machine gun, type M3.

Cartridges are usually fed to automatic guns of this type by means of belt made up of a plurality of links so connected together as to form a continuous belt connecting the cartridges. The linked cartridges are advanced step-by-step until each of the cartridges reaches an extraction position. At this point, the cartridge is extracted from its engaging link by means of an extractor, and is moved toward its ultimate position in the barrel of the gun. Since the mechanism used in extracting the cartridge from the belt and advancing it into firing position is well known in the art, its operation is described herein only to the extent necessary to show its cooperation with my present invention;

The extraction position .of the leading cartridge in a belt is determined by its position in relation to the front and rear cartridge stop and the link stripper. When the gun is changed from right-hand to left-hand operation, or viceversa, it is necessary to remove these members from the gun and reinsert them in the opposite side thereof. This, of course, requires also the withdrawal and changing of the link chute assembly.

In theearlier forms of automatic guns, the cartridge stops and the link stripper were separate elements, requiring separate withdrawals and reinsertion when the operation of the piece was changed from right-hand to left-hand oper- However, my invention is adapted for use with the presently employed device in which the stops and link stripper are embodied in a single structure for right-hand or left-hand insertion into the transverse feedway of the gun, and which is insertable in a linkguiding passage provided between a link guide member and the link stripper. It involves the use of a cartridge link guide having upper and lower guide plates for the stripped links, the said guide being carried by the structure which forms the side boundaries of 'the' link guiding passage along which the released links move to be dis- (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. (3.157)

charged from the gun, these upper and lower guide plates being disposed in the transverse feedway of the gun. I 7

An object of my invention is to provide a reversible cartridge link guide which will be re.- tained in the feedway of an automatic weapon, and which will control the vertical movement-of ammunition links after extraction of .the cartridge from the belt. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a reversible cartridge link guide which is readily attachable to the structure forming the side boundaries of the link guiding passage of the gun, and which will prevent jamming of the released links within the feedway, and thus prevent improper functioning of the gun itself.

A further object is to provide a cartridge link uide member which is both reversible and invertible to form a similar guide passage when used with right-hand or left-hand ammunition feed. l

A still further object is to provide a cartridge link guide member which is easily interchangeable from right-hand to left hand operational positions.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during the following specification, and the accompanying drawings, form-- ing part of the specification, whereinlike members are used to designate like parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of the transverse feedway of a machine gun of the type specified, with cover removed, showing the invention in place,

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the link chute adapter assembly, showing the relation of my invention to the supporting structure, and,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of an assembled link chute adapter.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the framework of a machine gun from which the cover and all parts of the mechanism not pertinent to this invention have been removed. Belt holding pawl brackets 6 are provided on the opposite sides of the said framework 5, the said brackets being provided with a series of spaced lugs 1. The saidlugs 1 are traversed by removable pins 8, known in the art as belt'holding pawl pins. Belt holding-pawl 9, provided with springs in, is mounted inthe space between'two of these lugs 1 facing a trans verse feedway l I along which an ammunition belt by a series of links (not shown) is advanced.

The pawl 9 functions to restrain the cartridges against movement opposite to the feeding movement.

The link chute adapter, generally indicated by the numeral l2, includes a base plate [3, said base plate being provided with mounting lugs Hi on each end thereof, and being of such length that the said lugs may be disposed upon the pin 8 by means of the upper and lower grooves provided in each of the lugs I l, outside the rear end lug and between the two forward lugs l of the bracket 6. Whether used for right-hand feed, as shown in Figure l, or reversed and inserted in the opposite side of the gun for lefthand feed, the pin 8 is received in the lowermost grooves 15. v

A link guide member 16, having a curved link guiding surface ll on its rearward side for guiding separated links in their discharge, and provided with detent spring clips l8 on top and bottom of the said guide member to hold the assembly firmly in the feedway of the gun, is secured to the base plate 13 near one end thereof by screws NJ, as shown in Figure 2, or by-any other method, such as welding or brazing, which will secure a permanently joined assembly. The curved surface ll may act as a device for preventing stoppage because of short rounds. The end functions as a front cartridge stop.

A link stripper 2| is similarly secured to the base plate l3 near the end opposite that occupied by the guide l6. The link stripper 2| is provided at its end innermost in the gun with a semicircular channel 22, conforming in shape to the periphery of a cartridge case. This channel provides means for engaging a'portion of the link and retaining it against rearward movement when the cartridge is withdrawn. The link stripper 2! may also serve as a cartridge stop.

The curved face i! of the guide [6 and the opposing face 23 of the link stripper 2i constitute the forward and rear sides of the link passage 24, a centered opening 25 in the base plate It between the said forward and rear sides of the passage 24 providing entry therein, the width of the said opening being equal to, the space between th said sides.

The present invention provides a cartridge link guide, indicated generally by the numeral 26, to be carried by the base plate 13 and positioned within the link passage 24. The said link guide 26 will preferably be made of steel, and will comprise a plate 21 of a height approximately equal to the base plate [3, the said plate being tapered at each end to conform generally to the shape indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The plate 21' is provided with drilled openings 28 to accommodate machine screws 29 for securing the said plate 21 in threaded engagement with the base plate [3 in drilled and threaded openings 30 provided therein. An opening 3! of the same size as the opening 25 in the base plate [3 is provided in the plate 21, and guide plates 32 and 33, of a lesser width than the interior width of the said opening 3|, are welded or brazed to the top and bottom of the said opening 3|, the said guide plates 32 and 33 forming the upper and lower boundaries of the link passage 24 when inserted into said passage through the opening 25.

Notches 34 are provided adjacent the top and bottom of said opening 25 to facilitate such insertion and to retain link guide 26 firmly in place. The guide plate 32, forming the upper boundary of the link passage 24, shall be of greater length than the guide plate 33, and shall The operation of the cartridge link guide is as V follows:

When the adapter is removed from the transverse feedway and upturned upon reinsertion on the opposite side of the gun, in order to change from right-hand to left-hand feed, or vice-versa, the guide 26 is detached from the adapter by removal of the screws 29 and reversed before reinsertion, with the longer guide plate 32 again forming the top boundary of link passage 24, whereupon the guide 26 is again secured to the base plate [3 by means of the screws 29.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and

that various changes in the shape, size and ar-.

rangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. A cartridge link guide for use in an automatic gun having belt means for feedin cartridges to the said gun, whereby links released from an ammunition belt feeding such automatic gun are discharged from the said gun, the said link guide comprising a base plate removably attached to saidgun, said base plate being provided with an openingthrough which the released links are discharged, upper and lower guide plates secured to the said base plate and removable therewith, said guide plates extending towardthe cartridges being fed into the gun to constitute upper and lower channel members for guiding released links to said discharge opening. 7

'2. A link chute adapter for use in an auto-- maticv gun having a belt for advancing link-connected cartridges and having'a transverse feedway, the combination of the base plate arranged for selectable insertion within the said feedway from either side thereof to provide right-hand or left-hand feed and having a discharge opening formed therein, means. for removably attaching said base plate to the said gun, a vertical guide member secured to said base plate near one end thereof, a link stripper secured to the said base plate near the other end, the said guide member and link stripper cooperating to form the side walls of a passage for discharge of the links, detent means attached to the said guide member for holding the said adapter positioned within the said feedway, a smaller plate member removably attached to said base plate and having an opening of the same size as the opening in the said base plate, the said plate member being arranged to be positioned so that the openings form a continuous opening into the said feedway, and upper and lower guideplates secured to the said plate member and removable therewith, said upper and lower guide plates being arranged for in-'- sertion into the said feedway to extend toward separated links in the direction of their discharge. l.

4(The structure of claim 2 in which. the detent means attached to said guide member-consist of fiat spring clips, one on each side, whereby the adapter is held secure to the structure of. the

gun.

- 5. The structure of claim 2 in which the base plate is provided with notchesat top and bottom of the opening therein to allow insertion of the upper and lower guide plates secured to the small plate member. v

' 6. The structure of claim 2 in which the forward end of the said guide member acts as a front cartridge stop.

7. In a structure for guidin the discharge of individual links as released from an ammunition belt of link-connected cartridges fed to an automatic'gun along a transverse feedway thereof, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the gun at the discharge end of said feedway and providing a link-discharge opening; and upper and lower link-guide members carried by said base plateto be removable therewith as a unit and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges to form the upper and lower boundaries of a link-receiving passage of sufiicient size to receive and guide the discharged links individually to said link-discharge opening, at least one of said link-guide members extending into said feedway. v

8. In a structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of link-connected cartridges'fed along a transverse feedway of an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable selectively to the gun on opposite sides thereof to accommodate left-hand and right-hand ammunition feed to the gun; fore and aft link-guide members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and extending into said transverse feedway; an attachment member removably connected to said base plate; and a link-guide member carried by said attachment member and extending into said feedway in the zone between said fore and aft members, the removable connection between said base plate and said attachment member permitting inversion of the latter and its link-guide member with respect to said base plate when said base plate is changed from left-hand to right-hand feed and vice versa, all of said link-guide members cooperating in defining a link-receiving passage receiving the links as they are released and guiding these links from the guns.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, in which the link-guide member carried by said attachment member is an upper link-guide member, and in which said attachment member carries also a lower link-guide member, the upper and lower link-guide members being of different length to extend different distances into said transverse feedway.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8, in which at least one of the fore and aft members provides a stop engageable by the leading cartridge to determine its extraction position.

11. In a structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of link-connected cartridges fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the gun and providing a link-discharge opening; fore and aft members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing. cartridges at. least oneof such'members forming a stop for the leading cartridge to determine, its extraction position; and upper and lower members carried by. said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the ,advancing cartridges, all of said members cooperating to outline a link-receiving'passage of sufficient size to receive the links as they are released, said' link-receiving passageguiding these links to said link-discharge opening.

' 12. 'In astructurefor guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of linkcOnnected cartridgeS fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a baseplate removably attachableto the gun and providing a linkdischarge opening; and walls carried. by said base plate-to be removable therewith and positioned to, extendtoward the advancing cartridges for providing a link-receiving passage bounded on at least three sides, by said'walls, said link-receiving passag'ereceivingthe links as they are released and guiding these links to said link-discharge opening, at least one of said walls providing an endsurface acting as a stop for the leading cartridge to determine its extraction position. 1 1 13. In astructure for guiding-the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of linkconnected cartridges fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the gun and providing-a linkdischarge opening; fore'and aft members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges, at least one of said fore and aft members forming a stopfor the leading cartridge to determine its extraction position; and upper and lower members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges, said lower member terminating short of the leading cartridge when in extraction position, all of said members cooperating to outline a link-receiving passage of sufficient size to receive the links as they are released, said link-receiving passage guiding these links to said link-discharge opening.

14. In a structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of linkconnected cartridges fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the gun and providing a linkdischarge opening; fore and aft members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges; and upper and lower members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges, all Of said members cooperating to outline a link-receiving passage of suflicient size to receive the links as they are released, said linkreceiving passage guiding these links to said linkdischarge opening, said fore and aft members be-- ing disposed on opposite sides of said link-discharge opening and facing each other to form the fore and aft boundaries of said link-receiving passage, said boundaries diverging in a direction toward the leading cartridg throughout at least a portion of said link-receiving passage.

15. In a structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of link-connected cartridges fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate removably attachable to the gun for selective righthand and left-hand feed, said base plate providing a link-discharge opening; fore and aft members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges; upper and lower members; and means for detachably connecting said upper and lower members to said base plate to permit reversal in position of said upper and lower members upon change from left-hand to right-hand feed and vice versa, said upper and lower members being of different configuration and being positioned to'extend toward the advancing cartridges, all of said members cooperating to outline a link-receiving passage of sufficientsize to receive the links as they are released, said link-receiving passage guiding these links to said link-discharge opening.

16. In a structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of linkconnected cartridges fed to an automatic gun, said structure comprising: a base plate remov= ably attachable to the gun and providing alinkdischarge opening; walls carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend toward the advancing cartridges for providing a link-receiving passage bounded on at least three sides by said walls, said link-receiving passage receiving th links as they are released and guiding these links to said link-discharge opening; and a frame-like member detachably connected to said base plate for inversion relative thereto, at least one of said walls being carried by said frame-like member to be removable therewith when said frame-like member is detached from said base plate.

17. A structure for guiding the discharge of links as released from an ammunition belt of link-connected cartridges fed to an automatic gun along a transverse feedway' thereof, said structure comprising: a base plate providing a link-discharge opening; means for removably attaching said base plate to the gun for selective right-hand and left-hand feed and with said link-discharge opening at the exit end of said transverse feedway; fore and aft link-guide members carried by said base plate to be removable therewith and positioned to extend. along said 'feedway toward the advancing cartridgesat least REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,314,734: Dawson et a1. Sept.- 2, 1919 2,073,632 Green s Mar. 16, 1937 2,375,452 Webb 'l May 8-, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain May 7, 1935 

